RTL streaming is growing - advertising revenue is rising
RTL Group grows. Revenues increase in the first six months. The number of users of the streaming service RTL+ increases significantly. Operationally, results are slightly lower due to costs for the European Football Championship. However, the MDAX company sticks to its annual targets.
The media group RTL benefited from rising advertising revenues in the first half of the year and increased its sales. It received a boost from higher streaming revenues. The Bertelsmann subsidiary confirmed its outlook for the full year. The group's earnings increased by 1.8 percent to around 2.9 billion euros year-on-year, as announced by RTL Group. Organic growth was also 1.8 percent. TV advertising revenues rose by 4.7 percent to 1.1 billion euros.
However, operating profit (EBITA) fell from 181 million to 172 million euros. This was due to expenses for TV broadcasts, especially the games of the European Football Championship. Thanks to the exclusive broadcast of twelve EM matches, RTL was the only German private broadcaster to increase its market share.
The operating result also includes start-up losses of 84 million euros for the streaming business (RTL+ in Germany, M6+ in France). However, the company is on track: RTL+ has increased its number of subscribers by a quarter to around 5.6 million in one year. "We are on track to achieve our long-term streaming goals and make our streaming business profitable by 2026," said RTL and Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe.
Net income increased significantly by 312 percent to 173 million euros. This was due to the elimination of restructuring costs for the magazine business (Gruner + Jahr) and the increase in value of the shares of the US advertising technology company Magnite, which RTL received when it sold its own AdTech subsidiary to the Americans. The revenues and profits of the RTL Nederland division for sale are no longer included in the adjusted group figures.
2026 operationally one billion euros
"Financially, the first half of the year met our expectations, and we confirm our outlook for the full year," said Rabe. Adjusted EBITA is expected to be between 700 and 800 (782) million euros, up from 782 million euros in the previous year. Revenue is expected to rise to 6.6 billion euros.
In two years, the company aims to reach the billion-euro mark in operating profit. It can imagine that the adjusted result before interest, taxes, and depreciation (EBITA) could rise to around one billion euros, said Rabe further.
Furthermore, the company specified its targets for the production business Fremantle: The division is expected to achieve its sales target of three billion euros in 2026, one year later than previously planned. The adjusted operating margin (EBITA margin) there is then expected to be around nine percent. Fremantle produces content in the areas of entertainment, drama, and film, as well as documentaries.
ntv and ntv.de are part of the RTL Group.
The success of RTL Group can be seen in the growth of the economy, as evidenced by the increase in advertising revenues and the boost to streaming revenues. Despite operational costs for the European Football Championship, the company maintains its annual targets due to strong performance in other areas.
RTL Group's streaming service, RTL+, is a significant contributor to the economy, as it has increased its number of subscribers by a quarter to around 5.6 million within a year. The company is confident in achieving its long-term streaming goals and making the streaming business profitable by 2026.
